Tuesday, March 03, 2015, 2:24 p.m.

Funeral service set for longtime ASU coach

JONESBORO — Funeral services have been scheduled for Thursday for longtime Arkansas State University assistant football coach and athletic administrator Bill Templeton.

Templeton, 80, died at his home Sunday, according to Emerson Funeral Home in Jonesboro. A cause of death was not released.

"My deepest sympathies go out to the Templeton family," Arkansas State athletic director Terry Mohajir said in a statement from the university. "We lost a great Indian and Red Wolf this weekend. Bill was a staple of our program for over 50 years."

Templeton was born in Pocahontas, where he lettered in football, baseball, basketball and track. He attended the University of Arkansas in 1952-53 before transferring to Arkansas State, where he played football from 1954-56.

Templeton then coached at high schools in Osceola; Kennett, Mo.; and Blytheville; before returning to Arkansas State as an assistant coach in 1965, later serving as offensive coordinator.

He retired from coaching in 1979 to become assistant athletic director for fundraising and director of what was then known as the Indian Club. ASU has since changed its mascot to the Red Wolves.

He retired from fundraising in December 1997, but in January 1998 he was named director of major gifts and planned giving for the ASU Indian Club, later the Red Wolf Club. He retired from that post in 2013.

Templeton was inducted into the ASU Letterman's Club Hall of Honor in 1987 and into ASU Ring of Honor in 1997.

Survivors include his wife, Vonette, a son, a daughter and one grandchild.